Old YMCA Buildings

The YMCA Camp Manitou has been in operation at Bertram Lakes since 1972. It was located at the south entrance of the current park for over 35 years and has served many thousands of kids with a great camping experience. But, as we all know, times change and two of the original buildings were recently demolished as they had become in disrepair. The “main building” and the “change house” were the buildings removed.

The change house was the place where campers would change into their swimsuits for their time at the beach. It was also used as a storage facility for the smaller sailboats on which the older campers learned to sail.

One year a group of campers decided to dress up the change house by painting the west end of the building. The scene was one of a lake (maybe Bertram) with pictures of some of the animals that inhabit the park ~ beaver, deer, loons, bass, cranes and trees. The only painting out of place is that of a castle. Each character had the name of the camper who painted it next to it. See the pictures in this tidbit.